The United States Navy celebrates HER 233rd Birthday today. From wooden ships and sails to steel and nuclear power she continues her LONG and PROUD TRADITION! There is not a navy out there today who can compete with HER (ours). So here’s to HER!

300? 300 what, you’re asking. Well let’s take a look at what 300 we’re talking about.

Barack Obama: 0

Hillary Clinton: 100

John McCain: 300

Generals and Admirals who support him. Hmm, and there were one hundred that supported Hillary, and let’s see there are….umm yeah, ZERO who support Barack Obama!

300 Retired Generals And Admirals Endorse John McCain For President

ARLINGTON, VA — U.S. Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign today announced that 300 retired generals and admirals from around the country are endorsing John McCain for president. The retired generals and admirals announced their support with the following letter:

“We have had the honor and privilege of serving as career officers in the United States Armed Forces, and of serving shoulder to shoulder with so many of the fine young men and women who are the backbone of America’s Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. It is that experience that informs our judgment that John McCain is the presidential candidate best suited to serve as America‘s Commander-in Chief from the day of his inauguration.

“Our next president will confront national security challenges as significant as those faced by any administration in at least a generation. Success will require a leader with proven tenacity, judgment and courage. It will also require a leader with detailed knowledge of our military and other instruments of national power, and with years of experience dealing seriously with foreign leaders.

“John McCain’s entire life has been devoted to the service of America. Throughout a long and distinguished career in the military and in Congress, he has repeatedly displayed the courage and integrity to place America‘s interests first — regardless of personal cost. And he has demonstrated the experience and wisdom to lead America — and, importantly, our allies — in effectively dealing with complex and vitally important national security challenges around the world.

“We unequivocally endorse him to continue his service to the country as the next President of the United States.”

The Bailout: Why Are President Bush and the Democrats Working Against Congressional Republicans?

In Washington, it’s a showdown between the representatives of Wall Street and the representatives of Main Street. But have you noticed that the old partisan alliances are reversed? It’s the Democrats who are now the Wall Street Party. And Republicans—with the conspicuous exception of President Bush—are now the Main Street Party.

Consider: President Bush proposed the $700 billion plan; after days of hiding behind the Secretary of Goldman Sachs, Henry Paulson, Bush finally emerged from the sidelines Wednesday night to tout the plan in prime time. Just this morning, he spoke again in favor of his plan, while again taking no questions from pesky reporters.

But the Congressional Democrats, who mostly despise Bush, are also mostly for the Bush plan. Sure, they made some cosmetic changes in the bailout proposal, but they have never wavered in their basic endorsement.

So who’s against the plan? It’s Congressional Republicans who are getting in the way. They are the heroes of the hour. Although outnumbered, these brave Capitol Hill GOPers have stopped official Washington in its tracks.

Why? Because the Democratic majority, supporting the bailout, doesn’t actually dare to vote for it unless they know that most Republicans will vote for it, too. And that’s because the Democrats fear that this bailout legislation is deeply unpopular with the country. So the only way that Democrats can vote for the bill and be safe this November is if Republicans also put their names on the legislative dotted line. Not a profile in courage for Democrats, of course, but it’s smart practical politics for them to demand some “cover.”

But let’s step back a minute. How did it come to pass that President Bush is siding with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi? What thought process led the Administration to support a big-government bill that the Republican grassroots all despise? Bush, of course, never met a Cheney-esque secret plan that he didn’t like. And it would also seem that seven-and-three-quarters years in office have totally disconnected him from rank-and-file Republicans. Remember his support for the ill-fated immigration “amnesty” bill back in 2004? And after that misguided legislation was beaten back, he proposed it again in 2007. What was he thinking?

For their part, the Democrats are emerging as the new party of the rich, the party of Wall Street, the party that champions financiers at the expense of producers. For years now, the most affluent precincts in the country—mostly on the two coasts—have been solidly Democratic. And in 2008, the polls show that upper-income voters mostly support Barack Obama. And Obama, of course, guided by the likes of Robert Rubin, has been quietly supportive of the deal. Indeed, Obama personally epitomizes the Democrats’ new political arrangement: He was raised mostly poor, then worked mostly with the poor, but now he is rich and works mostly with the rich—his campaign is a well-financed corporation. Yet he has maintained his popularity with the poor. For their part, the Republicans now represent the majority of middle-income voters—Main Street. But the Democrats, with their political pincer movement, from the rich above and the poor below, have the clear electoral advantage in 2008.

So it’s understandable that the Democrats would want to take care of “their” people at the top. That’s the revised Democratic model: The same old socialism for the poor, of course, in the form of the bureaucratic welfare state, and a new kind of socialism for the rich, in the form of this bailout.

In addition, the Democrats have some sordid secrets to protect—and Paulson & Co. are helping them keep hidden. Much of the overall financial crisis can be traced back to bad mortgages made to unqualified buyers at the behest of Democratic poverty advocates; it was a neat arrangement, poor Democrats got houses, as rich Democrats got richer by manipulating the financial paper. But the Bush administration, eager for a deal with the Democrats, has made it clear that it won’t point fingers. For their part, Senate Banking Committee chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) and House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) are returning the favor by pushing the bill forward.

So only Congressional Republicans—the single most implacable figure being Sen. Richard Shelby, the Rock of Alabama—are taking a firm stance against this monstrosity. They even seem to have brought along John McCain, who has taken various positions on the bailout over the last few weeks. But bravo for the Congressional Republicans. After years of embarrassments and scandals, the Capitol Hill GOP has rediscovered principle and honor. And so rediscovered the glory of genuinely representing the people, against the powerful.

I am reminded of Aragorn’s Battle Speech at the Black Gate in the third of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. The King tells his outnumbered troops:

I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day.

An hour of wolves and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down, but it is not this day!

This day we fight!!

By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!!!

And so, in the Tolkien story, the Men of the West are triumphant. But today, in the real world, could the Republican Men and Women of Capitol Hill yet prevail? The Washington, D.C. conventional wisdom, as of Friday, is that the Bush Administration/Democratic/Wall Street juggernaut will eventually bring the Congressional GOP to heel. If so, that would be the final victory of Wall Street over Main Street.

But maybe not. Maybe the people will win this epic struggle.

This story was written by James P. Pinkerton & ripped from the Fox Forum Blog

On the the 7th of September I put up my Memorial for Sept 11th. I made a very impassioned speech about unity and how we have lost that, how we have been tearing each other apart, particularly during this election process. I even went so far as to state I would no longer be party to this, in fact I refused to. Since then I went dark. I watched the news and blogs very carefully up to and the day of 9/11.

I noticed that even on the 11th both sides continued to attack each other. However I noticed that blogs from the Liberals and Democrats were the worst. I am fair and balanced and will admit that even Republican blogs did so as well, but the Liberals were far worse. Thus I have decided that if being a part of tearing the country apart to keep Obama out of the White House then so be it. Many of you decided to be bastards on Sept 11th and continue hateful attacks. Well you haven’t seen a BASTARD until you’ve seen and dealt with me.

I will no longer remain silent, you brought this on yourselves.

ON MY COMMAND UNLEASH HELL!!

The DNC

Democrats solution to gas prices

The Die is Cast!

I haven’t even released the big guns yet and I HAVE NOT YET BEGUN TO FIGHT!

So you Dems and Liberals keep fucking around and see what I really have to smack you with.

I wrote a letter which I posted at another website that makes this Tribute all the more understood, you will find it at the bottom of this blog.

Who Am I
By Kimberly Dunne

I am no one special.

I’m the little boy that gives up his favorite teddy bear so that a stranger might be comforted.

I’m the single mother who has been trying to teach her child to sleep in their own bed, who holds them tight long into the night, thanking God it wasn’t her child that died.

I’m the old man, angry and resentful that his military doesn’t want him because of his age.

I’m the teenage girl that spends hours cutting ribbons for others to wear as a symbol of remembrance.

I’m the young man who doesn’t understand why his father was running up the stairs as the building fell, trying to save just one more person, instead of saving himself.

I’m the old woman who will never see her grandchild again.

I’m the little girl, playing with her doll, who can’t understand when someone screams hateful things at her because of where her family is from.

I’m the police officer, trying to keep idiotic reporters safe, when his wife is still among the missing.

I’m the fire fighter that called in sick that day, only to discover that someone else died in his place.

I’m the man who survived the falling building only to learn that his sister and baby niece were in the plane.

I’m the secretary, angered by the seemingly callous response of those around her.

I’m a spelunker, who is climbing down into the remains of a building, hoping to find someone still alive.

I’m the dog handler, searching for bodies, that has to comfort my animal when only death remains.

I’m the woman who stands in line for five hours in order to give blood, hoping to help strangers in need.

I’m the man who gets up and goes to work every day, in spite of the tragedy, because he still has a family to feed.

I’m the first passenger to get back on a plane, even though I’m terrified, because I know somebody has to be first.

Who am I?

I’m nobody special.

I’m just an American.

I Am The Flag

I am the flag of the United States of America. My name is Old Glory.
I fly atop the world’s tallest buildings.
I stand watch in America’s halls of justice.
I fly majestically over institutions of learning.
I stand guard with power in the world.
Look up and see me.
I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice.
I stand for freedom.
I am confident. I am arrogant. I am proud.
When I am flown with my fellow banners, my head is a little higher, my colors a little truer.
I bow to no one! I am recognized all over the world.
I am worshipped – I am saluted.
I am loved – I am revered. I am respected – and I am feared.
I have fought in every battle of every war for more then 200 years.
I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh and Appamatox.
I was there at San Juan Hill, the trenches of France, in the Argonne Forest,
Anzio, Rome and the beaches of Normandy, Guam. Okinawa, Korea and KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam.
I was there. I led my troops,
I was dirty, battleworn and tired, but my soldiers cheered me
And I was proud.
I have been burned, torn and trampled on the streets of countries I have helped set free.
It does not hurt, for I am invincible.
I have been soiled upon, burned, torn and trampled on the streets of my country.
And when it’s by those whom I’ve served in battle-it hurts.
But I shall overcome – for I am strong.
I have slipped the bonds of Earth and stood watch over the uncharted
frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon.
I have borne silent witness to all of America’s finest hours.
But my finest hours are yet to come.
When I am torn into strips and used as bandages for my wounded comrades on the battlefield,
When I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier,
Or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving parent at
the grave of their fallen son or daughter, I am proud. MY NAME IS OLD GLORY
LONG MAY I WAVE.

DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN:
LONG MAY I WAVE

Dr. Suess For The Soul
“The Binch” By Rob Suggs

Every U down in Uville liked U.S. a lot,
But the Binch, who lived Far East of Uville, did not.
The Binch hated U.S! the whole U.S. way!
Now don’t ask me why, for nobody can say,
It could be his turban was screwed on too tight.
Or the sun from the desert had beaten too bright
But I think that the most likely reason of all
May have been that his heart was two sizes too small.

But, Whatever the reason, his heart or his turban,
He stood facing Uville, the part that was urban.
“They’re doing their business,” he snarled from his perch.
“They’re raising their families! They’re going to church!
They’re leading the world, and their empire is thriving,
I MUST keep the S’s and U’s from surviving!”
Tomorrow, he knew, all the U’s and the S’s,
Would put on their pants and their shirts and their dresses,
They’d go to their offices, playgrounds and schools,
And abide by their U and S values and rules,

And then they’d do something he liked least of all,
Every U down in U-ville, the tall and the small,
Would stand all united, each U and each S,
And they’d sing Uville’s anthem, “God bless us! God bless!”
All around their Twin Towers of Uville, they’d stand,
and their voices would drown every sound in the land.

“I must stop that singing,” Binch said with a smirk,
And he had an idea–an idea that might work!
The Binch stole some U airplanes in U morning hours,
And crashed them right into the Uville Twin Towers.
“They’ll wake to disaster!” he snickered, so sour,
“And how can they sing when they can’t find a tower?”

The Binch cocked his ear as they woke from their sleeping,
All set to enjoy their U-wailing and weeping,
Instead he heard something that started quite low,
And it built up quite slow, but it started to grow–
And the Binch heard the most unpredictable thing…
And he couldn’t believe it–they started to sing!

He stared down at U-ville, not trusting his eyes,
What he saw was a shocking, disgusting surprise!
Every U down in U-ville, the tall and the small,
Was singing! Without any towers at all!
He HADN’T stopped U-Ville from singing! It sung!
For down deep in the hearts of the old and the young,
Those Twin Towers were standing, called Hope and called Pride,
And you can’t smash the towers we hold deep inside.

So we circle the sites where our heroes did fall,
With a hand in each hand of the tall and the small,
And we mourn for our losses while knowing we’ll cope,
For we still have inside that U-Pride and U-Hope.

For America means a bit more than tall towers,
It means more than wealth or political powers,
It’s more than our enemies ever could guess,
So may God bless America! Bless us! God bless!

ONE
Written by Cheryl Sawyer

As the soot and dirt and ash rained down,
We became one color.
As we carried each other down the stairs of the burning building,
We became one class.
As we lit candles of waiting and hope
We became one generation.
As the firefighters and police officers fought their way into the inferno
We became one gender.
As we fell to our knees in prayer for strength,
We became one faith.
As we whispered or shouted words of encouragement,
We spoke one language.
As we gave our blood in lines a mile long,
We became one body.
As we mourned together the great loss
We became one family.
As we cried tears of grief and loss
We became one soul.
As we retell with pride of the sacrifice of heros
We become one people.

We are
One color
One class
One generation
One gender
One faith
One language
One body
One family
One soul
One people

We are United. We are America.

If I Knew

If I knew it would be the last time
That I’d see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
And pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
That I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
And call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I’d hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
So I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
To stop and say “I love you,”
Instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I’m sure you’ll have so many more,
So I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there’s always tomorrow
To make up for an oversight,
And we always get a second chance
To make everything just right.

There will always be another day
To say “I love you,”
And certainly there’s another chance
To say our “Anything I can do?”

But just in case I might be wrong,
And today is all I get,
I’d like to say how much I love you
And I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
Young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
You get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you’re waiting for tomorrow,
Why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
You’ll surely regret the day,

That you didn’t take that extra time
For a smile, a hug, or a kiss
And you were too busy to grant someone,
What turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
And whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
And that you’ll always hold them dear

Take time to say “I’m sorry,”
“Please forgive me,” “Thank you,” or “It’s okay.”
And if tomorrow never comes,
You’ll have no regrets about today.

Author Unknown

Dedicated for September 11th, 2001

“The United States is under attack” was all I could hear
On the radio and TV, now the nation was in fear.
The bystanders looking pointing above their heads
Family members calling in hopes loved ones weren’t dead.
Sirens started blaring, cries were certainly heard
“Oh my God” was the consensus of American words.
Tears started pouring as the television showed the world
The second plane hitting, more like it hurled.

Terrorist attacked in hopes to put us in despair
Pearl Harbor is the only attack for US to compare
The tragedy, the lives lost with no remorse.
Al-Quida received our attention from using blunt force.
After what seemed like forever, the towers started to fall.
People started running, the cameras caught it all.
I remember desperate acts of people falling to their death
I sat in my living room crying, just holding my breath.

“How could this happen, I don’t understand
Who could be bold enough to touch on our land?”
I couldn’t conceive of the actions taking place
I couldn’t imagine the people that were lost that couldn’t be replaced.
I thought of our Navy and armed forces making things right
But death could reach my life in their retaliating fight.

The city was covered in dust and smoke
It was so bad you could hear the reporters even choke.
The blanket filled the air and Ground Zero slowly emerged
Those that were inside and heroes that went in were now submerged
Under the drywall, concrete, office supplies and parts of planes
Many will have death of a parent and loved one to explain
To children that were left behind on September 11, 2001
The rebuilding of our Nation has now begun.

Family members gathered, loved ones soon came
To Ground Zero wishing to some how reclaim
That morning, that afternoon, all those days to follow
All the events of America were very hard to swallow.
But we got together and lit a candle, strength in the flame
We stood together with one thing to proclaim
The US isn’t falling, we will stand our ground
And when you awoke the next morning patriotism was found.

Flags were flying high on houses across the states
In cars, on buses, on clothes, on anything we could create.
The building may have fallen, but the foundation didn’t break
Those that attacked us soon found that mistake.
We as a nation stood as one on that tragic day
And that is how we as a Nation should stay.

AllGave SomeSome GaveAll

AREYOUGUYSREADY?

LETS ROLL!!

Hello everyone,

This is Texas Turtle once again and not my boyfriend (domestic partner) Texas Pony. I still can’t get registered for some reason so please forgive me coming in this way. In case you have forgotten who I am I will give you a quick run down once more. I am a former Navy Seal and then Firefighter/EMT, though I no longer do that job as I couldn’t bear dealing with the kiddos anymore. Seeing their torn bodies in cars or abuse they suffer at someone’s hand.

Anyway I digress, before I do get started I would like to apologize up front to anyone who by the end of this is offended and especially to Murphy if it seems I high jacked anything as neither is my intent, so here goes…

*Sigh*

My fellow Americans (You will understand why I call everyone that in short order); I come to you tonight broken hearted. I do not see any Liberals, Conservatives, Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and Pumas here today/tonight. I don’t see red, yellow, black, white, purple, green, pink, any color, race, religion, gender, or sex. I come to you as Americans.

September 11th is close at hand, please, PLEASE bear with me, do not go away. I am not here to talk about war, or use the blame game. I am here as I said broken hearted. I am thirty five years old and this is the worst election I have seen in my entire life. While many of you are probably older and can remember many others I will tell you I am a very well read person who loves History and knows quit a bit. Damn, I’m sorry I am digressing again. I may wonder from time to time as I am so emotional right now.

As I was saying this is the worst I have ever seen and in my belief the worst in history. September 11thbrought this nation closer than we have even been before, I dare say even more thanPearl Harbor.All of us then as I am doing now didn’t see any of what I mentioned above, what we saw were Americans. We all bled Red, White, and Blue that day. We stood shoulder to shoulder in solidarity. Now seven years later as we come up to that date I don’t think we have been more separated as a country than we currently find ourselves today. As the years have passed we have lost more and more of the spirit we found on that horrible day.

Today we see everything, Liberals, Conservatives, Democrat, Republican, red, yellow, black, white, blue, purple, green, pink, and every color in between. We see each race, religion, gender, and sex. I will admit that I am very guilty of this myself. It is the Civil War all over again. North against South, brother against brother, so forth and so on. I painfully wonder how we have gotten here and sunken this low. The world watched us very carefully that day to see what would happen. We showed the world we were first and foremost AMERICANS and we stood UNITED.

Ladies and Gentlemen the world is watching again, very closely once more. They are watching us and this election. We; all of us have failed; we have failed as a Nation. We are divided; we have been and are tearing each other and this Nation apart. In this way even though it is seven years later and not as soon as they would have liked, we have given the terrorists exactly what they wanted; we are today as a nation divided, thus allowing the terrorists to win, if not by their actual deed, then in principal.

It seems to me on September 11th we only go through the motions, nothing more, nothing less. On that day and several weeks to follow seven years ago you couldn’t buy a flag to save your soul as they flew out of stores, while internet sites had warnings up they were out or backlogged weeks to months. I have a huge collection of books on Sept 11th the stories I have read and what I saw on TV during that time and weeks to follow where nothing less of phenomenal.

We as a nation became heroes, in one town after a candle light vigil on the 12th as the Adults stood around after it ended wondering what they could do next the kids (ranging from 3 and up) answered that very question. They stood on one of the corners clutching their American flags jumping up and down screaming as passing cars, “Honk if you love America!” Cars all around began blaring horns, flashing headlights, or yelling back, “We do, we love America!” Those kids didn’t scream, “Honk if you’re Republican or honk if you’re Democrat. They screamed, “HONK IF YOU LOVE AMERICA!”

A couple from Arkansas upon seeing this greatest hour of need rented a U-Haul trailer, went to every last place in the town they lived and bought all the rakes and shovels there was to be bought. They drove non-stop save going to the bathroom, they packed food and switched out, but drove non stop to New Yorkto Ground Zero to give their love.Their country had called and they had answered. They never asked when they bought those items from the owners of those stores if they were Republican or Democrat, nor did they when they handed them out.

A mother whose husband had lost his job and had been out of work for over two months, whose family was barely scraping by was asked by her six and eleven year olds why this happened, and a million other whys. Questions she couldn’t readily answer. After dropping her kids off to school their questions haunted her. While she was shopping at a Wal-Mart she found some red, white, and blue ribbon that cost a whole forty-four cents. She decided they could afford that, she bought it and made ribbons for her, her husband, and her kids. Her daughter pinned hers to her favorite teddy bear. Her mom thought she did so, so she wouldn’t lose it, she couldn’t have been further off. The girl then took her most precious teddy bear and handed it to her mom asking, “Can we send him to New York?” Her mom got tears in her eyes and said “Yes we can do that.” Later that night while she lay in bed she had an idea and Operation Teddy Bear was born. I’m sure you seen this as it made National News. They ended up sending over one thousand bears and never once did anyone ask if the receiver was Republican or Democrat.

After the civil war had ended, it seems that Columbia, South Carolina was still struggling to recover from the devastation of that war. The New York Firemen’s Association heard the city was still using bucket brigades to fight fires. The New Yorkers, many of them former Union soldiers took up a collection to buy Columbia a fire wagon. That wagon was lost (destroyed) during shipment, so they took up another collection. Former Confederate Col. Samuel Melton was so overwhelmed that he promised on behalf of South Carolina’s Capital to someday return the favor, “should misfortune ever befall the Empire City.”

When middle school students from White Knoll found out about this 134 year old debt they began in earnest to pay it back. They raised $447,265.00 to present to New York’s mayor. That covered the cost of one $350,000.00 truck/engine and a little to spare to buy whatever else the fire dept. needed. While all the adults asked how much does it cost, the kid’s only concern was who was going to get to drive it. Those kids raised that money, kids. They repaid that debt and kept their states promise. They never asked if the people getting it were Democrat or Republican. They cared because they were Americans, they owed a debt, a promise needed kept, and their country called.

How many of us emptied our wallets, checked on neighbors, gave blood, stood in line longer and was a lot more patient with everyone, and how many of you asked who you we helping or being patient with, or checking on, how many of you asked if they were Republican or Democrat? I could go on and on, but let me ask you. How many of you have heard stories or witnessed them, how many of you have your own stories?

I am now misting up I’m so broken up by all this, how selfish we have become, how divided. Well I’m sorry, I can’t do it anymore. Actually I refuse to. I won’t bash my candidate’s opponent anymore. I know we have to have elections and I know they has to be a winner and a loser, but I won’t be party to tearing this country, this nation I love so much apart anymore. A nation I have bled for, cried for, sweated for, and killed for. I would ask all of you for only two things if I might be so bold.

On 9-11 don’t just go through the motions be a part of that day. Put bickering, party, race, color, religion, all of it aside for the entire day. Fly your colors (red, white, and blue); check on your neighbor, being more patient that day. Show the world once again that we are united once more. Even if for just one day.

Under this exact letter on my blog (link below) I have put up a few items for all Americans and to show unity once more. The second thing I would ask is this, if you have a blog or website to copy and paste this letter and link to your own blog or website, or even email it to your friends. I am striving for us to be united once more on 9-11, just for the day. I have placed this here so early in hopes this will draw as much attention as possible leading up to and the day of 9-11. I just want us to get along for one day, like we did seven years ago. If you believe in what I have stated or asked please show your support by commenting on my blog under this post by following the link provided.

Please let us show the world once again we are united I’m asking; no even as a man and former Seal, I’m begging you. Please don’t let me down, please show me we’re still good.

Good bless each and every one of you, God bless America our great nation.

SARAH PALIN: Mr. Chairman, delegates, and fellow citizens, I will be honored to accept your nomination for vice president of the United States.

(APPLAUSE)

I accept the call to help our nominee for president to serve and defend America. And I accept the challenge of a tough fight in this election against confident opponents at a crucial hour for our country.

And I accept the privilege of serving with a man who has come through much harder missions, and met far graver challenges, and knows how tough fights are won, the next president of the United States, John S. McCain.

(APPLAUSE)

It was just a year ago when all the experts in Washington counted out our nominee because he refused to hedge his commitment to the security of the country he loves.
With their usual certitude, they told us that all was lost, there was no hope for this candidate, who said that he would rather lose an election than see his country lose a war. But the pollsters…

(APPLAUSE)

The pollsters and the pundits, they overlooked just one thing when they wrote him off. They overlooked the caliber of the man himself, the determination, and resolve, and the sheer guts of Senator John McCain.

(APPLAUSE)

The voters knew better, and maybe that’s because they realized there’s a time for politics and a time for leadership, a time to campaign and a time to put our country first.

(APPLAUSE)

Our nominee for president is a true profile in courage, and people like that are hard to come by. He’s a man who wore the uniform of his country for 22 years and refused to break faith with those troops in Iraq who now have brought victory within sight.

(APPLAUSE)

And as the mother of one of those troops, that is exactly the kind of man I want as commander-in-chief.

I’m just one of many moms who will say an extra prayer each night for our sons and daughters going into harm’s way. Our son, Track, is 19. And one week from tomorrow, September 11th, he’ll deploy to Iraq with the Army infantry in the service of his country.

My nephew, Casey (ph), also enlisted and serves on a carrier in the Persian Gulf.

My family is so proud of both of them and of all the fine men and women serving the country in uniform.

(APPLAUSE)

AUDIENCE: USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!

So Track is the eldest of our five children. In our family, it’s two boys and three girls in between, my strong and kind- hearted daughters, Bristol, and Willow, and Piper.

(APPLAUSE)

And we were so blessed in April. Todd and I welcomed our littlest one into the world, a perfectly beautiful baby boy named Trig.

You know, from the inside, no family ever seems typical, and that’s how it is with us. Our family has the same ups and downs as any other, the same challenges and the same joys.

Sometimes even the greatest joys bring challenge. And children with special needs inspire a very, very special love. To the families of special-needs…

(APPLAUSE)

To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I have a message for you: For years, you’ve sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters. And I pledge to you that, if we’re elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House.

(APPLAUSE)

And Todd is a story all by himself. He’s a lifelong commercial fisherman and a production operator in the oil fields of Alaska’s North Slope, and a proud member of the United Steelworkers union. And Todd is a world champion snow machine racer.

(APPLAUSE)

Throw in his Yup’ik Eskimo ancestry, and it all makes for quite a package. And we met in high school. And two decades and five children later, he’s still my guy.

(APPLAUSE)

My mom and dad both worked at the elementary school in our small town. And among the many things I owe them is a simple lesson that I’ve learned, that this is America, and every woman can walk through every door of opportunity.

And my parents are here tonight.

I am so proud to be the daughter of Chuck and Sally Heath (ph).

(APPLAUSE)

Long ago, a young farmer and a haberdasher from Missouri, he followed an unlikely path — he followed an unlikely path to the vice presidency. And a writer observed, “We grow good people in our small towns, with honesty and sincerity and dignity,” and I know just the kind of people that writer had in mind when he praised Harry Truman.

I grew up with those people. They’re the ones who do some of the hardest work in America, who grow our food, and run our factories, and fight our wars. They love their country in good times and bad, and they’re always proud of America.

(APPLAUSE)

I had the privilege of living most of my life in a small town. I was just your average hockey mom and signed up for the PTA.

(APPLAUSE)

I love those hockey moms. You know, they say the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick.

(APPLAUSE)

So I signed up for the PTA because I wanted to make my kids’ public education even better. And when I ran for city council, I didn’t need focus groups and voter profiles because I knew those voters, and I knew their families, too.

Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska…

(APPLAUSE)

… I was mayor of my hometown. And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involved.

(APPLAUSE)

I guess — I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, except that you have actual responsibilities.

(APPLAUSE)

I might add that, in small towns, we don’t quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they’re listening and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren’t listening.

(APPLAUSE)

No, we tend to prefer candidates who don’t talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco.

(APPLAUSE)

As for my running mate, you can be certain that wherever he goes and whoever is listening John McCain is the same man.

(APPLAUSE)

Well, I’m not a member of the permanent political establishment. And…

(APPLAUSE)

… I’ve learned quickly these last few days that, if you’re not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone.

(AUDIENCE BOOS)

But — now, here’s a little newsflash. Here’s a little newsflash for those reporters and commentators: I’m not going to Washington to seek their good opinion. I’m going to Washington to serve the people of this great country.

(APPLAUSE)

Americans expect us to go to Washington for the right reason and not just to mingle with the right people. Politics isn’t just a game of clashing parties and competing interests. The right reason is to challenge the status quo, to serve the common good, and to leave this nation better than we found it.

(APPLAUSE)

No one expects us all to agree on everything, but we are expected to govern with integrity, and goodwill, and clear convictions, and a servant’s heart.

And I pledge to all Americans that I will carry myself in this spirit as vice president of the United States.

(APPLAUSE)

This was the spirit that brought me to the governor’s office when I took on the old politics as usual in Juneau, when I stood up to the special interests, and the lobbyists, and the Big Oil companies, and the good-old boys.

Suddenly, I realized that sudden and relentless reform never sits well with entrenched interests and power-brokers. That’s why true reform is so hard to achieve.

But with the support of the citizens of Alaska, we shook things up. And in short order, we put the government of our state back on the side of the people.

(APPLAUSE)

I came to office promising major ethics reform to end the culture of self-dealing. And today, that ethics reform is a law.

While I was at it, I got rid of a few things in the governor’s office that I didn’t believe our citizens should have to pay for. That luxury jet was over-the-top.

(APPLAUSE)

I put it on eBay.

(APPLAUSE)

I love to drive myself to work. And I thought we could muddle through without the governor’s personal chef, although I got to admit that sometimes my kids sure miss her.

(APPLAUSE)

I came to office promising to control spending, by request if possible, but by veto, if necessary.

(APPLAUSE)

Senator McCain also — he promises to use the power of veto in defense of the public interest. And as a chief executive, I can assure you it works.

(APPLAUSE)

Our state budget is under control. We have a surplus. And I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending, nearly $500 million in vetoes.

We suspended the state fuel tax and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress, “Thanks, but no thanks,” on that Bridge to Nowhere.

(APPLAUSE)

If our state wanted to build a bridge, we were going to build it ourselves.

(APPLAUSE)

When oil and gas prices went up dramatically and filled up the state treasury, I sent a large share of that revenue back where it belonged: directly to the people of Alaska.

(APPLAUSE)

And despite fierce opposition from oil company lobbyists, who kind of liked things the way that they were, we broke their monopoly on power and resources. As governor, I insisted on competition and basic fairness to end their control of our state and return it to the people.

(APPLAUSE)

I fought to bring about the largest private-sector infrastructure project in North American history.

And when that deal was struck, we began a nearly $40 billion natural gas pipeline to help lead America to energy independence.

(APPLAUSE)

That pipeline, when the last section is laid and its valves are open, will lead America one step farther away from dependence on dangerous foreign powers that do not have our interests at heart.

The stakes for our nation could not be higher. When a hurricane strikes in the Gulf of Mexico, this country should not be so dependent on imported oil that we’re forced to draw from our Strategic Petroleum Reserve. And families cannot throw more and more of their paychecks on gas and heating oil.

With Russia wanting to control a vital pipeline in the Caucasus and to divide and intimidate our European allies by using energy as a weapon, we cannot leave ourselves at the mercy of foreign suppliers.

(APPLAUSE)

To confront the threat that Iran might seek to cut off nearly a fifth of the world’s energy supplies, or that terrorists might strike again at the Abqaiq facility in Saudi Arabia, or that Venezuela might shut off its oil discoveries and its deliveries of that source, Americans, we need to produce more of our own oil and gas. And…

(APPLAUSE)

And take it from a gal who knows the North Slope of Alaska: We’ve got lots of both.

(APPLAUSE)

Our opponents say again and again that drilling will not solve all of America’s energy problems, as if we didn’t know that already.

(LAUGHTER)

But the fact that drilling, though, won’t solve every problem is no excuse to do nothing at all.

(APPLAUSE)

Starting in January, in a McCain-Palin administration, we’re going to lay more pipelines, and build more nuclear plants, and create jobs with clean coal, and move forward on solar, wind, geothermal, and other alternative sources. We need…

(APPLAUSE)

We need American sources of resources. We need American energy brought to you by American ingenuity and produced by American workers.

(APPLAUSE)

And now, I’ve noticed a pattern with our opponent, and maybe you have, too. We’ve all heard his dramatic speeches before devoted followers, and there is much to like and admire about our opponent.

But listening to him speak, it’s easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or even a reform, not even in the State Senate.

This is a man who can give an entire speech about the wars America is fighting and never use the word “victory,” except when he’s talking about his own campaign.

(APPLAUSE)

But when the cloud of rhetoric has passed, when the roar of the crowd fades away, when the stadium lights go out, and those Styrofoam Greek columns are hauled back to some studio lot…

(APPLAUSE)

… when that happens, what exactly is our opponent’s plan? What does he actually seek to accomplish after he’s done turning back the waters and healing the planet?

(APPLAUSE)

The answer — the answer is to make government bigger, and take more of your money, and give you more orders from Washington, and to reduce the strength of America in a dangerous world.

(AUDIENCE BOOS)

America needs more energy; our opponent is against producing it. Victory in Iraq is finally in sight, and he wants to forfeit. Terrorist states are seeking nuclear weapons without delay; he wants to meet them without preconditions.

Al Qaeda terrorists still plot to inflict catastrophic harm on America, and he’s worried that someone won’t read them their rights.

(APPLAUSE)

Government is too big; he wants to grow it. Congress spends too much money; he promises more.

Taxes are too high, and he wants to raise them. His tax increases are the fine print in his economic plan.

And let me be specific: The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes, and raise payroll taxes, and raise investment income taxes, and raise the death tax, and raise business taxes, and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars.

(AUDIENCE BOOS)

My sister, Heather, and her husband, they just built a service station that’s now open for business, like millions of others who run small businesses. How are they…

(APPLAUSE)

How are they going to be better off if taxes go up? Or maybe you are trying to keep your job at a plant in Michigan or in Ohio…

(APPLAUSE)

… or you’re trying — you’re trying to create jobs from clean coal, from Pennsylvania or West Virginia.

(APPLAUSE)

You’re trying to keep a small farm in the family right here in Minnesota.

(APPLAUSE)

How are you — how are you going to be better off if our opponent adds a massive tax burden to the American economy?

Here’s how I look at the choice Americans face in this election: In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers, and then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change.

They are the ones whose names appear on laws and landmark reforms, not just on buttons and banners or on self-designed presidential seals.

(APPLAUSE)

Among politicians, there is the idealism of high-flown speech- making, in which crowds are stirringly summoned to support great things, and then there is the idealism of those leaders, like John McCain, who actually do great things.

(APPLAUSE)

They’re the ones who are good for more than talk, the ones that we’ve always been able to count on to serve and to defend America.

Senator McCain’s record of actual achievements and reform helps explain why so many special interests, and lobbyists, and comfortable committee chairmen in Congress have fought the prospect of a McCain presidency from the primary election of 2000 to this very day.

Our nominee doesn’t run with the Washington herd. He’s a man who’s there to serve his country and not just his party, a leader who’s not looking for a fight, but sure isn’t afraid of one, either.

(APPLAUSE)

Harry Reid, the majority of the current do-nothing Senate…

(AUDIENCE BOOS)

… he not long ago summed up his feelings about our nominee. He said, quote, “I can’t stand John McCain.”

Ladies and gentlemen, perhaps no accolade we hear this week is better proof that we’ve chosen the right man.

(APPLAUSE)

Clearly, what the majority leader was driving at is that he can’t stand up to John McCain and that is only…

(APPLAUSE)

… that’s only one more reason to take the maverick out of the Senate, put him in the White House.

(APPLAUSE)

My fellow citizens, the American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of personal discovery.

(LAUGHTER)

(APPLAUSE)

This world of threats and dangers, it’s not just a community and it doesn’t just need an organizer.

And though both Senator Obama and Senator Biden have been going on lately about how they’re always, quote, “fighting for you,” let us face the matter squarely: There is only one man in this election who has ever really fought for you.

(APPLAUSE)

There is only one man in this election who has ever really fought for you in places where winning means survival and defeat means death. And that man is John McCain.

(APPLAUSE)

You know, in our day, politicians have readily shared much lesser tales of adversity than the nightmare world, the nightmare world in which this man and others equally brave served and suffered for their country.

And it’s a long way from the fear, and pain, and squalor of a six-by-four cell in Hanoi to the Oval Office.

But if Senator McCain is elected president, that is the journey he will have made. It’s the journey of an upright and honorable man, the kind of fellow whose name you will find on war memorials in small towns across this great country, only he was among those who came home.

To the most powerful office on Earth, he would bring the compassion that comes from having once been powerless, the wisdom that comes even to the captives by the grace of God, the special confidence of those who have seen evil and have seen how evil is overcome. A fellow…

(APPLAUSE)

A fellow prisoner of war, a man named Tom Moe of Lancaster, Ohio…

(APPLAUSE)

… Tom Moe recalls looking through a pinhole in his cell door as Lieutenant Commander John McCain was led down the hallway by the guards, day after day.

And the story is told, when McCain shuffled back from torturous interrogations, he would turn towards Moe’s door, and he’d flash a grin and a thumbs up, as if to say, “We’re going to pull through this.”

My fellow Americans, that is the kind of man America needs to see us through the next four years.

(APPLAUSE)

For a season, a gifted speaker can inspire with his words. But for a lifetime, John McCain has inspired with his deeds.

If character is the measure in this election, and hope the theme, and change the goal we share, then I ask you to join our cause. Join our cause and help America elect a great man as the next president of the United States.

Thank you, and God bless America. Thank you.

MY NOTE: DEMOCRATS BE AFRAID! BE VERY AFRAID! YOU’RE ALL IN SO MUCH MORE TROUBLE THAN WHAT YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE! YOU HAVE LOST THIS ELECTION! PERHAPS NEXT TIME YOU WON’T STEAL THE CONVENTION OR VOTES FROM “WE” THE TRUE DEMOCRATS!